The Directorate of Education
(DoE), he says, is very strict this year but till someone does not bring the problem to their notice how it will take any action.

Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely had earlier said he was aware of violations but his department could only act against a school if it receives complaints from parents.

"If they show us a receipt, we can act on it. Most parents don't come forward," Lovely had said.

The Federation of Public Schools, which has around 300 schools under its ambit in Delhi, also acknowledged the issue.

"We have received some complaints against some schools demanding money without receipt. But when we intervened, the schools agreed to give receipts," says R P Mallik, chairman of the federation, without naming the schools.

He, however, says if parents come out with evidence, "we will take action against the schools concerned".

When contacted, several schools denied such reports and said they always issued proper receipts for payments.

"We give receipt of the full amount of the fees deposited by parents," says Rekha Bakshi, principal of Vasant Valley School.

"Who says, we are not giving receipts? Every thing is very transparent here although we have a higher fee-structure. And then, if you want better education and service, you need to pay more," says an official of Noida's Step By Step School.